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| 12/03/2019 |
Henry Devlin was a native of Ardboe. He was born about 1885. |
| 12/03/2019 |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th February 1916: Cookstown Man at the Persian Gulf |
| 12/03/2019 |
Gunner Harry Devlin, C.R.A. (Commanding Royal Artillery) Staff, Headquarters, Divisional Artillery, 3rd Lahore Division, Indian Expeditionary Force D, writing to his wife (Coagh Street, Cookstown) on 16th January from the ‘Head of the Persian Gulf’, says he arrived safely at his destination after a very comfortable journey. He had not received any letters or parcels since leaving France, but expected to receive them all in a bundle soon. He is still at his old job at the Base at the ‘Head of the Persian Gulf’, but expected soon to be moving up country into action. He found the climate very good and not too hot so far. He enclosed copies of the King-Emperor’s message to the troops of the Indian Army Corps in France, dated 25th October, and of the ‘Special Order of the Day’. Issued on 22nd November by Sir Field Marshall Sir John French, on relinquishing the command of the British Army in the Field, and asks his wife to keep these safely for him. The remainder of the letter is of a personal nature, but he warns her to expect only one letter every week from him at most while at that station. When at home last autumn, Gunner Devlin left for view, at this office, several interesting articles, including two spent shells and a clip of cartridges. |
| 12/03/2019 |
By February 1916, Gunner Devlin was in the Persian Gulf. .He was with the Commanding Royal Artillery Staff at the Headquarters of the Divisional Artillery of the 3rd Lahore Division, which was part of the Indian Expeditionary Force. |
| 12/03/2019 |
Harry Devlin served in the Boer War. |
| 12/03/2019 |
Henry Devlin and Rose McElhone were married on 5th June 1906 in the district of Cookstown. They had at least three children. |
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Known family: Henry Devlin, Rose Devlin, Mary Devlin (born 6th June 1907), Rose Devlin (born 23rd February 1909), Bridget Devlin (born 1st February 1911). |
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The 1911 census lists Henry as age 26, living with his family at house 54 in Coagh Street, Cookstown, County Tyrone. Henry was a labourer. |
| 12/03/2019 |
Harry Devlin lived with his wife in Coagh Street, Cookstown. He was employed by Messrs Mason in Cookstown. |
| 12/03/2019 |
Driver Harry Devlin, who was with the Royal Field Artillery, went to the front in in February 1915. He was on the reserve. |
| 12/03/2019 |
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| 11/03/2019 |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 11th September 1915: Driver Harry Devlin Home |
| 11/03/2019 |
The war trophies on view in our office this week include the white metal badge from the helmet of a Bavarian officer who ventured too near the British lines and was shot by Corporal Lawless of the 2nd Inniskillings, who was on picket duty. He secured the badge and sent it home to his father, Mr John Lawless, of Church Street, Cookstown, who has lent it in order that the townspeople may see it and perhaps some of them will be inspired to do likewise. Another new exhibit this week consists of two fifteen pounder Boer shells which were used in 1899 during the Boer campaign. They were brought here by Sergeant Henry Devlin, Coagh Street, of the Royal Field Artillery, who has been out in France and is at present home on holidays and had very narrow escapes. He has also left on view a clip of five live cartridges as used in the Lee-Metford service rifle. |
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| 11/03/2019 |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 25th September 1915: |
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Driver Harry Devlin, Royal Field Artillery, who for the past seven months, has been in the thick of the fighting in France, has arrived at his home in Coagh Street, Cookstown, for a rest. He is a native of Ardboe and was on the reserve when the present war broke out. He was employed by Messrs Mason, Cookstown, and was married to Miss McElhone, Coagh Street. He passed unharmed through the Boer War (which he says was not a patch upon the present campaign) and has had the good fortune to have so far escaped injury. He gives many hair breadth escapes however, and relates many interesting experiences of life at the front and the conduct of hostilities. These however he is opposed to making public. He frequently came into contact with an Ardboe man, an old schoolmate of his own, named Lynn, whom he says is going on well, although in the fighting line for twelve months. He was also through the South African campaign. A Gortalowry man named Taylor was also a chum and is doing well. Driver Devlin, whose comrades sometimes designate him ‘The Wild Irishman’, is looking fit and well. He returns to his unit on 30th September. |
| 11/03/2019 |
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